I think the Tortle race is interesting, but the Shell Defense ability seems underwhelming. I like the idea behind it, but mechanically it seems to generally be worse than Dodge, and so would never be used. Would it be unbalanced to change it to give resistance to all damage (or maybe all except psychic) instead of the AC bonus and advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws? I would keep all the disadvantages.
Are you asking as a player or a DM? Pull your neck in - that was rhetorical.
If I had a pound/dollar/bitcoin for every time I had heard someone claim that such-and-such ability would never be used, and then watched as they discovered a great synergy with something else...well, depending on your currency, I might be rich.
Game designers tend to re-read the stuff they come up with.
Edit: I don't have access to the tortle stuff, so I can't be more specific. :)
Firstly, I have to say that Shell Defense has a different area of usage from the Dodge action, despite them having some overlap. Namely that the +4 AC which is granted from Shell Defense is sometimes better than the disadvantage the Dodge action would give to your attack, because the attack might have some way to have Advantage that would negate the disadvantage but not the +4 AC.
And Shell Defense gives advantage on different saving throws, so while Dodge might be useful to get advantage on Dexterity saving throws against some sorts of attack, it can't do anything for saves like those made to avoid being thrown off a cliff by thunderwave or to reduce the damage of a green dragon's poison gas breath weapon, which Shell Defense would help with.
Secondly, I must mention that there is such a thing as a "ribbon" feature - a feature which is given mostly for flavor, rather than for balance, that is neat and often unique, but is far from being potent. This feature is once such ribbon - it's not meant to be a go-to action for characters of the tortle race, nor is it meant to have enough power to feel like it affects the balance between this race and any other. That's what ability scores, claws, natural armor, and survival instinct are for.
In closing, I'll say that thinking this feature needs any kind of power boost to make it worthwhile is in the same vein of suggesting that a dwarf's Stone Cunning needs some kind of benefit against enemies made of stone.
I'm asking as a potential player. I wanted to see if it was reasonable before talking to the DM. Ultimately, it won't change my character choice either way, just opens up some options.
It takes up an action and prevents use of movement and reaction. It also requires a bonus action on a subsequent round and movement to stand up from prone, so it's not going to be used much regardless of what effect it has.
I was envisioning using it for things like the party decided to use you as a battering ram or ride you down a hill like a sled. Crazy stunts don't really benefit from higher AC. I doubt I would really use it combat either way, besides maybe protection from dragon breath
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I think the Tortle race is interesting, but the Shell Defense ability seems underwhelming. I like the idea behind it, but mechanically it seems to generally be worse than Dodge, and so would never be used. Would it be unbalanced to change it to give resistance to all damage (or maybe all except psychic) instead of the AC bonus and advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws? I would keep all the disadvantages.
Are you asking as a player or a DM?
Pull your neck in - that was rhetorical.
If I had a pound/dollar/bitcoin for every time I had heard someone claim that such-and-such ability would never be used, and then watched as they discovered a great synergy with something else...well, depending on your currency, I might be rich.
Game designers tend to re-read the stuff they come up with.
Edit: I don't have access to the tortle stuff, so I can't be more specific. :)
Roleplaying since Runequest.
Firstly, I have to say that Shell Defense has a different area of usage from the Dodge action, despite them having some overlap. Namely that the +4 AC which is granted from Shell Defense is sometimes better than the disadvantage the Dodge action would give to your attack, because the attack might have some way to have Advantage that would negate the disadvantage but not the +4 AC.
And Shell Defense gives advantage on different saving throws, so while Dodge might be useful to get advantage on Dexterity saving throws against some sorts of attack, it can't do anything for saves like those made to avoid being thrown off a cliff by thunderwave or to reduce the damage of a green dragon's poison gas breath weapon, which Shell Defense would help with.
Secondly, I must mention that there is such a thing as a "ribbon" feature - a feature which is given mostly for flavor, rather than for balance, that is neat and often unique, but is far from being potent. This feature is once such ribbon - it's not meant to be a go-to action for characters of the tortle race, nor is it meant to have enough power to feel like it affects the balance between this race and any other. That's what ability scores, claws, natural armor, and survival instinct are for.
In closing, I'll say that thinking this feature needs any kind of power boost to make it worthwhile is in the same vein of suggesting that a dwarf's Stone Cunning needs some kind of benefit against enemies made of stone.
I'm asking as a potential player. I wanted to see if it was reasonable before talking to the DM. Ultimately, it won't change my character choice either way, just opens up some options.
It takes up an action and prevents use of movement and reaction. It also requires a bonus action on a subsequent round and movement to stand up from prone, so it's not going to be used much regardless of what effect it has.
I was envisioning using it for things like the party decided to use you as a battering ram or ride you down a hill like a sled. Crazy stunts don't really benefit from higher AC. I doubt I would really use it combat either way, besides maybe protection from dragon breath